ABSTRACT

The years between 1900 and 1950 produced American history's most dramatic improvements in women's health, thanks to advances in public health, medicine, workplace safety, and the overall standard of living. The period from 1950 to 2000 brought less spectacular achievements, but women benefited from medical breakthroughs like antibiotics and the polio vaccine, as well as broader initiatives such as air pollution controls, tighter occupational safety regulations, campaigns against drunk driving, and the requirement for safety belts in cars. The importance of taking increased responsibility for one's health also received new attention, leading many women to stop smoking, limit their alcohol intake, pay closer attention to nutrition, get regular medical checkups, and exercise more frequently.